Number 4 jumped up and down atop Number 1's carry on saddlebag that lay in the chair next to him in a cute optimism "What do you think we'll see? Do you think they have pumpkin pie? Oh i hope they do! EEEEEE! I Can't Wait!" She giggled and chased her own tail, seemingly unable to remain still for anything more than a second.
For the first time they'd all rid themselves of their cloaks, save for Number 3 and Advisor Jared. Number 2 who sat next to her asked quietly "Why'd you keep your cloak on hon?" Number 3 looked at her and sighed, something was obviously on her mind but Number 2 couldn't tell.
Number 2 went over to Jared "Hey Jared... Juuuust curioooous, but, you know what's gotten Number 3 down so much?" she looked over her shoulder at Number 2 as she spoke, but his answer wasn't the kind you'd think "She's going through some troubles in her life, her mood will pick up as soon as we get to canterlot... Most likely" Number 2 nodded and thanked him, still feeling concerned for Number 3, whose real name she didn't even know.
She walked over to Number 3 who sat across the train car from the others and sat next to her, looking out the window.
"I actually can't wait to see the Equestrian Royal Guard, can't you Number 3?" She smiled at the hooded mare as she finally spoke "Number 2... can i ask you something?" and looked at the cyan unicorn who nodded "Anything, what's up?"
"What do you think of spies?"
Number 2's nose scrunched as she scowled slightly as she replied quietly "I hate them! untrustable! they could betray anypony upon a moment's notice, as soon as it becomes convenient for them! Uhm... why?" and calmed down slightly, realizing the question could be just curiosity "What if they defected and were actually world-renowned?"
Number 2 thought and Number 3's second question "Well... Then it would change things... if the spy in question defected to both sides, then they would be out of a job as both sides would treat them as a rogue... you aren't just simply curious right dear?"
Number 3 chuckled lightly "Uhm... eh.. I..t's... complicated." but Number 2 leaned in close to her, narrowing her eyes and scowling lightly "You're... not a spy are you?" she asked quietly.
Number 3 stretched and hugged her "I... Will tell you later, okay? Let's just enjoy our vacation" Number 2 smiled "You'll tell me after right?" and she was replied to with a nod, but the matter was not forgotten easily.
As Number 2 and Number 3 cuddled in their seats, Number 1 was simply amused by Number 4 and enjoyed her company. Number 5 simply observed the others as Advisor Jared slept soundly, but loud enough to hear hi from a few seats away, which she was...
Number 1 and 4 were more like in the middle, Number 2 and 3 were at the front end, and Advisor Jared had been sleeping in the seat in front of her for the last two hours, or at least tried to as he shuffled and adjusted himself for the fifth time.
Each of them had a job, and hers was one she slightly prided herself over.
She trusted each and everyone of them and cared for them unconditionally as if they were her own, and protected them just as fiercely.
As they pulled in, Number 2 and 3 fell asleep against each other, Jared did get actual rest and Number 1 also fell asleep while Number 4 calmed down and was sitting on the window sill, watching the world come to a stop.
When the car completely stopped. Number 4 seemed to get even more excited and hyper, waking Number 1 out of his quiet and light slumber.
They started to get out of their seat when Number 5 and Advisor Jared walked past them, albeit slowly as Jared wasn't in the best of conditions having just woke up.
Number 3 woke up a few moments later and stretched, rousing Number 2 who's head dropped slightly "mmmmnn... Are we there yet?" she said drowsily, looking out the window.
Number 3 nodded and hugged her drowsy companion "Eeyup, we're there, say hello to Canterlot, Number 2" and yawned as they both eventually got up and left the train with their luggage close behind.
They afterwards met up near the train tracks and were greeted by Princess Luna herself accompanied by five Royal Guards who took each council member to where they'd all be staying, Princess Luna, To his surprise, took Advisor Jared elsewhere...
"The Ruins of Canterlot... Why have you brought me here Princess Luna?" Jared gave her a slightly confused look, but she only looked down at her hooves in utter sadness. Her emotional expression lived on as she looked ahead to the smouldering ruins that was once the great city of Canterlot. "When we left our sister... she told us to look under the Palace in two centuries... well it's actually exactly that date." She smiled lightly at him and continued "I thought it would be best for the leaders of two nations to find Princess Celestia's Secret"
Advisor Jared smiled happily and comfortingly and nodded "It would be my Pleasure" And them both slowly walked into the charred city, towards the Royal Palace which stood, untouched in the distance with a somewhat good optimism.
As they both reached the Royal Palace they went directly for What used to be a marble staircase and Princess Luna moved to the back of it "Come Jared, you need not fear anything in here"
The Advisor Whispered as he followed Luna in behind the staircase "I doubt that..."
But the moment Luna stepped behind the staircase, a high-pitched beeping noise was heard and Jared had only next seen Luna running towards him and suddenly they were in a field after a flash of blue magic.
A massive thump was heard as Canterlot shook, it's old supports creaking audibly, even from the five mile distance they had traveled, but he felt less safe when the entire ruin was instantly vaporized in a red and black fire that expanded from the center and grew out to engulf it all.
But it had not stopped there, the fire sunk into the ground swiftly and a brilliant explosion erupted, destroying the stone that had survived the blaze of fire and all beneath it for what seemed like miles.
Advisor Jared felt dazed from the sudden teleport which he was now more grateful for than ever, and the shockwave from the trap knocked him over, knocking him out cold.
Number 2 ran to the window as the horizon seemed to explode in a brilliant explosion that they heard even from New Canterlot which stood far, far away, enough so that Canterlot was visible, but only if you knew what to look for among the green, still charred mountain-side "Whoa, Look at That!" She smiled brightly, if there was one thing that made her happy was something being blown up.
"Hey Number 3, look, Canterlot just exploded! It was Awesome!" She laughed as she walked over to Number 3, who sat on the bed, hanging her head down.
Her smile started to fade as she saw her comrade shaking subtly and her smile vanished as she saw that a part of her hood was darker than the rest. As she realized, Number 3 was crying! "Number 3? what's wrong?" Number 2 sat on the bed next to her and held Number 3 in a close and very tight hug.
Number 3 sniffled loudly and wiped her eyes with both hooves and got off the bed. "I'm... a s-spy, that's what's wrong!"
Number 2 asked her "What do you mean?" Number 3 threw back her hood and Number 2 shrunk back, not out of surprise, but out of sheer terror, as she saw who stood before her with tear-soaked cheeks. The pony who'd defeated the Red Syndicate by herself, and was even rumored to have killed the Distonian Sorceror herself; The Peacekeeper of Blood, Storm Chaser.
"I knew this would happen..." Number 3 who revealed herself as Storm Chaser looked even more saddened, and tore off her cloak and threw it onto the carpeted hotel-room floor, she reached into the inside of the very well made cloak and took out a small note and opened it up on the floor.
Time seemed to slow as she looked at the note, tears welling even faster, making small tac noises as her own tears hit the hard parchment.
It was around this time the Guard noticed that it was a bit too quiet after all that and opened the door, saw Storm and immediately chased after her. Storm ran to the window, broke through it and flew into the sun-lit distance.
Number 2 walked over to the note and read it aloud "Do you... Love me."
Storm was never very upfront about serious things so she sometimes sent notes with checkboxes, this note had two.
Yes and No.
Her tears had hit the No option, transforming it into a murky dark stain of sadness and rejection.